Proverbs 10:1-23

Common English Bible

10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child makes a father glad,
    but a foolish child brings sorrow to his mother.
² The treasure of the wicked won’t profit them,
    but righteousness rescues people from death.
³ The Lord doesn’t let the righteous starve,
    but he rejects the desires of the wicked.
⁴ Laziness brings poverty;
    hard work makes one rich.
⁵ A wise son harvests in the summer;
    a disgraceful son sleeps right through the harvest.
⁶ Blessings cover the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷ The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked rots.
⁸ The skilled mind accepts commands,
    but a foolish talker is ruined.
⁹ Those who walk in innocence walk with confidence,
    but those on crooked paths will be found out.
¹⁰ Those who wink an eye bring trouble;
    those who speak foolishly are ruined.
¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
¹² Hate stirs up conflict,
    but love covers all offenses.
¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of those who have understanding,
    but there is a rod for the back of those with no sense.
¹⁴ The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings on ruin.
¹⁵ The riches of the wealthy are their strong city;
    the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
¹⁶ The wages of the righteous lead to life;
    the earnings of the wicked lead to sin.
¹⁷ Those who heed instruction are on the way to life,
    but those who ignore correction lose their way.
¹⁸ Lying lips conceal hate,
    and those who spread slander are fools.
¹⁹ With lots of words comes wrongdoing,
    but the wise restrain their lips.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked lacks value.
²¹ The lips of the righteous nourish many people,
    but fools who lack sense will die.
²² The Lord’s blessing makes a person rich,
    and no trouble is added to it.
²³ Fools enjoy vile deeds,
    but those with understanding take pleasure in wisdom.